My Labrador was meant to live forever.

Labradors are meant to live forever, aren't they?

Forever being 12 or so years at least.

In the perfect world maybe.

But not in mine.

Letting go of a hound that means the world to you, 

and that has seen you through chaos you never would have expected to face, 

is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make.

It all happened SO quickly.
One week from diagnosis to decision.
My beautiful girl was in pain
and I couldn't allow it to continue.

She was my best friend in a furry coat.
My rambling companion.
My photographic buddy.
An ever-present bum waggling presence in my life.

A legendary hound.

We shared SO many adventures.

So many SUNSETS on the beach

SUNRISES too numerous to count.
This image was the last sunrise we watched together and conveys so much.
The bond we shared goes beyond words.

Rugby balls were always her 'thing'

... unless there happened to be a log on the beach.
Logs took preference even over rugby balls.
Especially if they were humungous logs.

Many were the times I'd walk down the beach 
with her plaintively wailing for my help to pick up a log.
Many were the times others succoumbed to that wail,
and she'd trot gleefully down the beach with an enormous log
 that some random passerby had helped her pick up.

She was special.
And she knew it.

Sam was her best 4-legged friend
He was one of the few hounds 'allowed' to help carry a log.
She would grunt and growl to deter him,
and swing her head from side to side.

It worked with rugby balls
but not with these huge logs.

He'd eventually get a grip
and she'd grudgingly let him help her carry it ashore.

Rambling with her by my side gave me no end of pleasure.
I never minded the wet legs and the wet shoes 
from the shower shakes she shared with me.
They were EPIC.
Water droplets EVERYwhere!

On my days off we'd travel further afield.
She loved our adventures and making new friends.

We'd ramble far and wide, for hours on end.
On beaches and in the waves.

Along waterways and estuaries. 

Through parks and reserves.

As long as there was a water source wherever we rambled, she was a happy hound.

Cow troughs at Churchill Park come to mind.

As do the fountains at the Domain.

Those who've never had a special relationship with a dog 
cannot understand the impact this girl had on my life.

She bought SO much joy.

Not only to me, but to so many others too.

She filled a hole in my life that I didn’t know I had.  

Her passing has left the hugest of voids 
and an ache in my heart that is quite unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

It’s in that ache though that I take solace.  

It reminds me to live life in the moment, as she did.

To find joy in the little things.

To value each experience as it happens.

And to see the beautiful in the ordinary.

This girl taught me so much.

 She helped me climb mountains that I never thought I would conquer. 
She was, and will always be, MY girl.

Sunrise warrior

“It was sunsets that taught me that beauty sometimes only lasts for a couple of moments,

 and it was sunrises that showed me that all it takes is patience to experience it all over again.”

~ A.J. Lawless

Sunrise over Tamaki Estuary last week... so tranquil.

Ah yes.

That great big golden orb in the sky.

A never ending reminder that nothing is permanent.

Even the good things!

Sunrise at Point England this week 

My every day is different.

The early morning mist at Point England ... just gorgeous.

As it should be.

The Duke, who we dog-sat last weekend

I am a sunrise warrior

... it’s a battle to exit a warm bed in the morning.

And a sunset follower.

As that golden orb exits my skyline every evening

I can’t help but feel breathless at the artwork it leaves in the sky.

It’s more than astonishing.

And beyond beautiful to witness.

Hopping out of the spa wearing only a swimsuit,

in the chilly winter air,

just to capture a sunset

could be considered a little whacky.

And it probably is.

But the sunset was worth it.

There’s a whole lot of contentment going on at the moment.

And it’s not just because that sun’s rising earlier in the sky.

I feel more content.

More at peace with the world around me.

More at one with the path I’m on.

It's growing me.

Churchill Park panarama

“When writing the story of your life,

don’t let anyone else hold the pen.”

~ unknown

Good vibrations

“What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us and, 

when you bring what is within out into the world,  

miracles happen.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

Love this view of the city!

I was recently told by a very dear friend that rising to challenges 

whilst still being able to kick off my shoes is my speciality.

I like that.

Especially the kicking off the shoes bit.

Early morning mist over the Sculpture Trail on the Kaipara Coast

I think the challenges of the last few years have allowed lots of practice.

.... and another one

There are some little things though that still stump me!

Leaving a warm comfy bed is one of them.

Contrary to popular opinion

I do NOT leap out of bed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed of a morning.

Especially at THIS time of the year.

"Cowtitude" .... a cow with attitude

Mornings are DARKER.

COLDER.

FAR less inviting.

Snuggling up under the duvet as the alarm reaches it’s crescendo 

is my way of trying to escape the chilly morning air.

Murawai Beach ... love it  on mornings like this

Whilst I try and ignore the alarm, the hound does anything but.

To her, it’s the signal to rise and shine

‘Shining’ being the furthest thing from my mind!

The warmth of that bed is SO tempting.

As I resignedly emerge from under the covers

she leaps off the bed with an enthusiasm I can’t even begin to muster.

My favourite spa buddy ... the Lady Kereru

Zombie-like, I move round the flat, chocolate brown shadow in tow.

There’s a furball to feed.

Curtains to open.

A bed to make.

The theory behind making the bed is that I can’t climb back in.

Well ... technically I could - but then I’d have to make it again.

Way too much effort.

Breakfast on the rocks

The upside for persevering with this early morning rising, even in winter,

are the sun rises I’m witness to at this time of year.

They’re breathtaking.

Ample reward indeed!

They feed my heart and soul in a manner that’s beyond quantifying.

I vibrate BACK the energy they give out.

That can ONLY be a good thing.

“The universe is not punishing you or blessing you.  

The universe is simply responding to the vibrational attitude you are emitting.”

~ anon